NSW/ACT men’s coach and 2012 Norm Smith Medallist Ryan O’Keefe joined Brent and Painey to discuss tomorrow's representative game against Tasmania.
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SEN Tassie
NSW/ACT men’s coach and 2012 Norm Smith Medallist Ryan O’Keefe (19/07/24)
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Yeah, look, it's very exciting. We're all very pumped for this game. It's been a little while since Redford. He's been up in Sydney and in Canberra. Everyone's super excited to get it back. And yes, looking forward to making our trip down to Tazi. Now, a bit about Tazi. Obviously, you watched them play Queensland a few weeks ago and they had a solid win against Queensland. So, we'll definitely know it's going to be a solid opposition we're playing again. Ryan, a lot of people down here probably aren't as familiar with some of the players in your side that you'll be bringing down. Can you give us some names that some of our fans should be looking out for? Yeah, look, we've got some good players coming out of Canberra. Guys like Alex Smout, Luke Ward, and I'll pop back and just want to look forward. Tom Simpson runs to the midfield for us. And then in Sydney, Ned Campbell, Jake Beale, a few of those guys. Yeah, so yeah, look, we've got some really good players. We've got some players that obviously mixed with the Swans and Giants. They fell as pop-up players. So, some of those guys have had to run around with them. So, yeah, look, we've got a good mix I think and I think it's good a team that can be super competitive. I'll show you what Tazzy's win against Queensland. A few times by now. Ryan from last month, who are some of the players you identified out of our team that you'll be needing to shut down tomorrow to win, do you think? Well, we saw that big big Phillips, the Ruckman is not playing, so he was a super K player. I was definitely planning for him, but the second Ruckman was obviously pretty solid. Tazzy's midfield were really strong. They dominated Queensland into clearances. I think it's that they'll plus 10 out of the centre bounce. So, that's going to be a real big focus. I think the midfield battle and around stoppage. So, and they're not half back. It's plenty of runs in the Tazzy players. So, I was super impressed with the way Tazzy played and the way they worked and they hunted numbers. So, yeah, look, I think it's going to be a really strong contest and particularly a battle out of the midfield. Mate, you've also been helping out and had a bit of oversight with the women's coaches as well, how the girls looking ahead of their ref game down here tomorrow as well. Yeah, the girls are looking super strong. And Lloyd Parris, kid coaching that. So, Lloyd's got some experience coaching the Giants W team. But, again, yeah, the girls are super excited for this. And I think, yeah, the more opportunities that girls get to play for the high level 40, good for the development of the game, particularly up here in NSW. So, look, I think the Sydney Canberra girls are going to be super strong. So, Ron, have you guys played together before as a Sydney Canberra combined side? Or is this your first time? And what's that process been like forming a team from over a couple of regions, I suppose? Yeah, it has been a bit of a challenge. Now, this is the first time. We actually haven't had all the players in the same room. The first time we're going to meet at the airport today. So, it's been, we've had a couple of online sessions getting around together. So, it's been a new challenge for me as a coach, trying to get the team together and get everyone to know each other. So, yeah, that has been something different. The way we picked the team was, we did have a Sydney rep team play, Canberra rep team and we've got to pick the team out of that. So, yeah, look, it's going to be interesting. I know, Taz, you've probably got the advantage of probably being a bit more of a team and having more sessions and played together. But, look, that's something, a challenge we've got now. But, look, when you're playing with, you know, the best players you've got in your region, you know, they're generally talented. They've got good footy RQ. So, hopefully, they can put it together. Representing footy has been, you know, massive success since it returned down here. Now, players certainly in the State League love playing it and look forward to it. I know you haven't got your group together in the one room as yet, but are they excited by it? And they involved, you know, loving being involved in the initiative? Yeah, totally. The buy-in from the players has been fantastic. Every player that got picked or put in the score, they said, "Yeah, straight away, I'm super excited." Even some of the guys that we've got a few players that, as I was mentioning before, been on the Swans VFL, or John's VFL, these didn't, and they wanted to play the rap game over the Swans VFL team. So, yeah, and it's even from the local clubs, the buy-in which has been awesome. So, these are something that he's going to stay, and hopefully, it grows over the coming years, into, you know, something strong, whether it's a tri-series with Tassie and Queensland, NSW. So, look, everyone's super excited for it to be back and, yeah, super pumped to the game tomorrow night. Ryan, obviously a tremendous career for you at AFL Level 286 Games for the Swans, of course, norms with Mertil, Premiership Player. What are your thoughts on Tasmania coming into the competition? Oh, look, I think having Tassie in there makes it a truly national game, doesn't it? Obviously, super proud and a state that's, you know, got AFL, rich in AFL history. So, look, I think it's great, you know, if the new state in Dan and Hobart gets done, that looks like it would be a fantastic, fantastic venue, and it just keeps adding to the, to the game. So, look, I think, I think, personally, the expansion of it into Tassie, and then, probably another one somewhere else, maybe up in Northern NSW, would be, you know, how the game should grow. Don't tell the Northern Territory task force that, but, mate, before we let you go, state of origin AFL Level, are you for it or against it? Look, I think it's good. I played in the last one in 2008, Victoria. I just, yeah, I just need to, it needs to buy, and, like, when, obviously, up here, the rugby league, state of origin, was on Wednesday night, and that's huge, and that's, the players are really focused around that, and obviously, the NRL have made that such, such a big deal, but it is only added to two states. I suppose, how do you, how do you fit that in AFL when you've got every state playing, and how do you make it competitive? So, that's probably the only thing. It's the biggest challenge. It's probably not, I think, the NRL, they build a whole season round state of origin. That's all plays play for, really, even more than clubs, but I think with the AFL, I think, the club, winning the club, and playing with your clubs, much bigger than that. So, yeah, I think, I think there's a lot of challenges to make it actually, if that's what to be on it. All right, and good luck tomorrow, mate. Big job ahead, obviously, as you said, just meeting all the group at once today at the airport. So, a big challenge for you, but we can't wait to see it in here. Tomorrow night, 4.45 bounce at Utah Stadium at Tasmania versus Sydney Canberra. Thanks so much for joining us on SCN Tassie Breakfast. Yeah, no, thanks, Aaron. We're really looking forward to getting there. Right, okay. Superstar for the swans, of course, back of the day, and now, coach of Sydney Canberra. Tomorrow, that was thanks to maximum solar in person, personalised energy solutions for you and your home, maximumsolar.com.au. We are late for the news headlines. We'll come back and get to a couple of your techs after that here on SCN Tassie Bricky.